“When we spoke the other day, you mentioned that the project was for kids who might otherwise have too much time on their hands and get into trouble, but what about kids who are looking to break the cycle? Those children who want to learn a trade, or want to do more with their lives but they aren’t necessarily being forced into it. I’m not saying to use those words, but instead of presenting the program as a saving grace for kids who might be destined for delinquency, how about selling it as a program for kids who are trying to better themselves because they want to? Like Evan learning from Jamie. No one forced him to come over, or to make another date with Jamie next weekend.”
Bella drew in a hopeful breath. “Vera, you’re brilliant. Maybe I’ve been looking at this all wrong. Maybe it should be a little bit of an exclusive program.” Bella stood and paced. “Maybe the application should be expanded to include more than the fields the kids are interested in and why, but what their goals are after high school. And, taking it even further, we can add an essay requirement about why a company should hire them. Nothing big, just a few paragraphs.” She wrapped her arms around Vera.
“Thank you! This sounds so much more appealing. I mean, no kid is going to write an essay unless they want a job, right? And it would make them really think about the fields they are interested in.” Bella sat back down. “And the kids who need the program but aren’t as inclined to fill out the paperwork can be recommended by the guidance counselors, so they have an in. They’d have to complete the same forms, of course, but maybe then we add…Wait, that sounds like we’re playing favorites. That won’t work.”
“Bella, you’re not saving the world. You’re developing a program for those who want to better themselves,” Leanna said. “I think the idea of an essay is a good qualifier. Think about it. Do you really want to sell companies on a kid who is in it only for the time out of school, or do you want to really help the kids who want to be helped?”
“Don’t forget, guidance counselors can recommend to the kids that they take part,” Jenna added. “And the ones who follow through are more likely to do a good job anyway.”
“True. And the application already requires teacher and personal recommendations. You know what?” She gathered her towel and hugged Vera again. “I’m going to text Caden and tell him that we’re officially dating and then I want to work on this. I have a new boyfriend and a pitch to develop!”
Chapter Ten
EARLY AFTERNOON FOUND Caden taking a report for another breakin at Duck’s Pond. The pond was located off a back road, at the bottom of a hilly, wooded path. Like many ponds on the Cape, the parking lot was a good distance from the water, and unfortunately, it made for an easy target for vehicle breakins. He took the report and then drove down the main drag to the center of Wellfleet to grab a soda from the Wellfleet Market.
He parked behind the church and was crossing Main Street when he noticed Evan and his friends sitting on their bikes in the gravel area beside the market. He recognized two of the boys from the flea market, Mike and Bobby. Unlike Evan, both boys wore their dark hair cut short, while the others had longer hair, like Evan.
“Ev,” he called as he approached.
Evan’s shoulders dropped as he reluctantly stepped from his bike. “Be right back,” he said to the others.
“Hey, buddy. How’s it going?” Caden eyed the boys on the bikes, and when Mike shifted his eyes away, Caden had a funny feeling in his gut. He wrote off the discomfort to a combination of the distance he’d felt between him and Evan and to not knowing Evan’s new friends. This too shall pass, he hoped.
Evan stared at the sidewalk and kicked at a stone. “Fine.”
“Where are you guys heading?”
Evan shrugged.
Evan’s friends rode to the edge of the gravel area, where they were waiting for him, obviously trying to signal Evan that they were ready to leave. Caden slid them a narrow-eyed stare. He wasn’t about to be rushed, but he was also walking a fine line of not wanting to embarrass Evan with his new friends.
“Dad, can I go, or did you want something else?” Evan asked.
He didn’t like the way Evan wasn’t looking at him or answering his questions. “You know I don’t like you loitering. What’s your plan?”
Evan shrugged again.
“Come on, Evan. Are you going to just ride circles around Wellfleet? Head over to someone’s house and play a game? What’s the deal? And look at me when I’m talking to you.”
Evan lifted his eyes. “Beach, I guess.”
Caden didn’t like his reticence one bit, but he’d cut him some slack this time. “Fine. Stay out of trouble.”
“Whatever.” Evan walked away.
Caden opened his mouth to call him back, then thought better of it and shook off his irritation. He knew that being a cop’s kid had all sorts of things that came along with it, including new friends looking shady with nervousness even if they weren’t bad kids. A uniform could make the calmest of kids jumpy. He’d let this go with Evan, but he’d have the station secretary run a background check on the two boys Evan had met at the flea market—just to be sure Mike’s shifting eyes were only a sign of a typical nervous teen around a cop.
AT THE END of his shift, Caden was poring over the crime reports from the night before when he received a text from Bella. Her smiling face filled the screen with the caption, Guess who this is?
He texted back, The hottie who likes leather boots?
What was she up to now, and why did she still make his body fill with anticipation like he was sixteen years old? His phone vibrated a minute later.
Your new girlfriend. Yup, it’s official. Alert the media. We’re dating. That is…if you still want to. If not, well, check out the racy boot pic, and you’ll change your mind. Xox.
Caden was laughing when Kristie Palken, the executive assistant for the station, stopped by his desk with the report he’d asked her to run on the two new friends Evan talked about most often, Bobby Falls and Mike Elkton. He shoved his phone in his pocket and cleared his throat, but there was no way he’d be able to stifle his grin.
Kristie chewed bubble gum like an addict. She was never without a pink wad, and she blew bubbles midconversation in the most annoying fashion, but she was efficient as could be, and after working with cops for the last ten years, she was savvy enough to actually get blood from a stone.
“Okay, spill it. What’s got you looking like the Cheshire cat?”
“Nothing. What’ve you got?”
“Uh-huh. I’ve raised a teenager. I know what a juicy secret looks like, and you, my friend, are totally in that secret zone.” She smiled and blew a bubble. “It’s okay. It’s a small town. I’ll find out eventually if it’s worth knowing. Anyway, I’ve got your info.” She wiggled her plump bottom into the chair across from Caden.
“And?” He tried to read her expression, but she was looking past Caden at two officers joking around behind him.
She blew a bubble and shrugged. “I’ve got nothing on them. They go to Nauset High, parents are respectable, no history of delinquency on either.”
Caden breathed a sigh of relief.